Mills’ Man In Premix Diversion

Two persons were on Thursday arrested by the Elmina Police in the Central Region for their alleged involvement in the diversion of premix fuel in the area. The two, according to Daily Guide sources, mentioned the name of a National Premix Committee Member, Kobina Badu popularly known as Maanoma, as the brain behind the act. Maanoma, who was rewarded by President Atta Mills with the position, is a well-known NDC man who once described former President John Agyekum Kufour as a leader who did not have the welfare of fishermen at heart during a People’s Assembly held at Sekondi about a year ago. "Mr Kufour, do you think the sea is like a lorry park which will need renovation when it is damaged?" he questioned the former President at the People’s Assembly in Sekondi. Information gathered by the paper indicated that Maanoma usually collects four drums of premix fuel from all the premix outlets from every consignment they receive in the region and sells it at GH¢45.00 per gallon instead of GH¢26.00 due to the insufficient premix fuel being distributed under the NDC Government. The source said he collects the four drums with the explanation that it is a protocol decision and that everybody must oblige and later sends the premix fuel to the Marine Park at Elmina to sell. Sources said luck eluded him when a taxi driver operating from Bronyibema to Elmina and another guy he had sent to collect the premix from Ampanyin Landing Beach Committee were arrested at Elmina Marine Park with the booty. Daily Guide learnt that after interrogation, the two mentioned Maanoma as the brain behind the diversion of the fuel. They were detained at the police station and later released upon instruction from the Regional Minister, Madam Ama Benyiwa Doe, Daily Guide learnt. According to the information, the Regional Minister said it will be a dent on the Mills Administration if the incident gets to the public, thereby ordering the police not to release any information to the press. Due this ‘order from above’ the Elmina police are now refusing to open up to the press. Meanwhile, a well-known NDC man who was alleged to have lodged the complaint at the Elmina Police station, a certain Texas, also refused to comment on the issue when contacted. Fishermen in Elmina are now calling for the head of Maanoma who is now at large. All efforts to speak to Maanoma and the Regional Minister proved futile as their phones were off. Further investigations conducted by DAILY GUIDE revealed that the premix committee members in Cape Coast normally take two drums of the premix fuel from every consignment and later sell the rest to the fishermen, even if it is not sufficient. Source: Daily Guide

WAEC releases 2009 BECE results

Some BECE candidates taking their examination The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has released provisional results of the April 2009 Basic Education Certificate Examinations (BECE). The results for the schools would be dispatched through the District Directors of Education. A release issued in Accra and signed by the Senior Public Affairs. Manager of WAEC, Mrs Agnes Teye-Cudjoe, said the candidates scores would be forwarded to the Ghana Education Service for use in the Computerised School Selection and Placement System while candidates could access their results online. It said 450 candidates had their subjects cancelled while 130 had their entire results cancelled. The affected candidates, according to the release were involved in various examination irregularities such as sending into the examination hall foreign materials, seeking/receiving help from non-candidates, including invigilators, supervisors and teachers and tearing parts of their question papers and answer booklets, as well as collusion. Source: Daily Graphic/Ghana

5 NDC CABINET MEMBERS LINKED TO $40M BRIBERY CASE IN UK

THERE IS DEEP SATISFACTION IN KNOWING YOU ARE PART OF CONTINUING PROCESS AND PROGRAM AND THAT YOU HAVE PICKED UP WHERE OTHERS HAVE LEFT OFF AND THAT OTHERS WILL PICK UP WHERE YOU LEAVE OFF. - By: ELD.BRIGHT ADUASARE More Quotes | Submit a Quote

The trial of Serious Fraud Office's prosecution of Mabey and Johnson has been listed for preliminary hearing on Friday 7 August at 11:30am in Court Number 1 at Southwark Crown Court, London.

At Court One of the Southwark Crown Court, London, last Friday, directors of UK firm Mabey & Johnson pleaded guilty to bribing government officials in Ghana under the previous National Democratic Congress government, Iraq and Jamaica. But, in an interesting twist, the presiding judge, Judge Rivlin restricted the press from revealing the names of the officials involved.

Mabey & Johnson bribed its way to winning a multi-million pound sterling worth of contracts in Ghana alone in the 1990s covering feeder roads and bridges. About £22m ($35m) of it was for the construction of nine bridges in rural areas in Ghana.

But, The Statesman can reveal from its sources close to the case that the names of five top cabinet members in the Rawlings government have been directly linked to the case as alleged recipients of bribes estimated to be more than $6 million. Most of the bribery took place when Prof John Evans Atta Mills was Vice President and head of the government's economic management team.

But, Friday, Judge Rivlin ordered that reporting of the case should be limited to arraignment, pleads, date and purpose of the next hearing. “No individuals should be named in the media reports,” he ordered, explaining that, “There are ongoing matters in this jurisdiction and in other jurisdictions ,” which may be prejudicially compromised.

The Reading based company, owned by one of Britain's richest families, admitted on 7 th July, 2009 at Southwark Crown Court to paying bribes to win contracts in Ghana , Jamaica and Iraq. Last Friday, Mabey & Johnson entered a guilty plea to 3 of the 10 charges, namely charges 1, 5 and 9.

Charge 1 read: “ Between the 1st day of January 1994 and 18th day of August 1999, conspired with certain of its directors, executives, employees and agents to give or agree to give corrupt payments contrary to Section 1 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906 to Ministers, officials and other agents of the Government of Ghana as inducements to secure, or as rewards for having secured contracts from the Government of Ghana, known as 'Priority Bridge Programme 1', 'Priority Bridge Programme 2' and 'Feeder Roads Projects' for the supply of goods to the said Government of Ghana by Mabey and Johnson Limited. Contrary to Section 1 of Criminal Law Act 1977.”

Charge 5 involved a corruption conspiracy with the Jamaican government. Charge 9 dealt with a corruption matter in Iraq, contrary to Article 3(a) of the Iraq (United Nations Sanctions) Order 2000 and sec. 1(1) of the United Nations Act 1946.

Sentencing is fixed for Friday, 25 September at 10 am.

The make up of people in the public gallery of the courtroom last Friday indicated the high level of bother this corruption case poses for President Mills, former President Rawlings and the NDC.

There were about six people from the Ghana High Commission and an official of Ghana's National Security was also spotted in the audience.

It was a packed court room with 16 legal representatives including officials from the UK's Serious Fraud Office in attendance.

The matter had been transferred from Westminster Magistrates Court following a hearing on 10 July 2009.

It is the first time that a British company is on trial in the country for corruption offences in a foreign country.

The prosecution by the Serious Fraud Office has been trumpeted by the British government, which has been under pressure to bring more corrupt exporters to book. Critics say Britain's performance has been lamentable since it promised in 1997 to stamp out the payment of bribes by British companies to foreign ministers and civil servants.

More details to come.

Source: The Statesman - The Statesman

Ghana: Corrupt Mabey & Johnson's work found to be defective

A British company that corruptly acquired multimillion-pound commercial deals in Africa delivered faulty and negligent work in those contracts, it can be disclosed.

Mabey & Johnson, a bridge-building firm, is the first major British company to be prosecuted for paying backhanders abroad. The Reading-based company, owned by one of Britain's richest families, has admitted paying bribes to win contracts in Ghana, Jamaica and Iraq.

However, it has now emerged that the bridges it had been paid to build in Ghana were defective. According to a high court judgment, the firm had to spend more than £2m rebuilding and repairing the bridges. The weakened bridges contained a variety of design faults after Mabey staff had made simple engineering miscalculations.

Today, Mabey & Johnson pleaded guilty to corruption offences in the three countries at Southwark crown court in London. The company, which has donated to the Conservative party, will learn of its punishment on 25 September.

The prosecution by the Serious Fraud Office has been trumpeted by the British government, which has been under pressure to bring more corrupt exporters to book. Critics say Britain's performance has been lamentable since it promised in 1997 to stamp out the payment of bribes by British companies to foreign ministers and civil servants.

Mabey & Johnson has admitted conspiring to give corrupt payments to so far unnamed politicians and officials in Ghana in the 1990s when it was awarded contracts from the impoverished west African country worth £22m to construct nine bridges in rural areas.

But after Mabey started work there its managers found that one of its bridges with the same design became unstable and partially collapsed in Ethiopia in 1996. The managers feared that its bridges in Ghana might also fall down. Three bridges were rebuilt and five others repaired.A dispute with their insurers over who should foot the bill for the repair work was heard in the high court in London in 2003. The judge ruled that the engineering miscalculations were "fairly basic" and "negligent".

A Mabey spokesman said : "As a sign of good faith, and as soon as it became aware of the issue, the company took action at its own expense to remedy the problem in situ with a total of eight bridges. As a result of these events we stopped supplying this type of bridge."

Mabey received financial support for the contracts from the British government.

The company says it builds "quick, simple, reliable" bridges in 115 countries.

The SFO has also examined corruption allegations involving Mabey & Johnson in the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Panama and the Dominican Republic in the last five years, later dropping its inquiries. Mabey & Johnson admitted making corrupt payments of £360,000 to Saddam Hussein's regime in 2001-2.

In Jamaica, a politician, Joseph Hibbert, resigned from the government last month saying he had been "implicated" in the bribery and wanted to clear his name.

Source: the guardian

Kickback Scandal Nails NDC

An image-denting case stares the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the face, as a London Crown Court in the UK postponed preliminary hearing into a case in which a major British company, Mabey and Johnson, admitted paying bribes to government ministers under the Jerry John Rawlings administration between 1994 and 1999.

The unfolding case, which was adjourned after attracting a large turnout of members of the public, the press and representatives of the Ghana High Commission in London last Friday August 7, 2009, has no doubt put an extra strain on government lawyers at the Justice Ministry and Attorney-General’s Department. Presiding Judge Rivlin at the Crown Court number 1 at Southwark, UK, adjourned the case to Friday 25 September at 10.00 am. The case had been transferred from Westminster Magistrates Court following a hearing on July10, 2009 to the Crown Court because of its magnitude.

Of the 10 charges preferred against the British company under that country’s law, Mabey and Johnson entered a plea of guilty to three.The first charge, germane to Ghana, has it that between January 1st 1994 and 18th August 1999, certain directors, executives, employees and agents of the company conspired to offer corrupt payments to ministers, officials and agents of the then NDC government.

The bribe, the charge went on, was to facilitate the securing and reward for contracts from the Ghana Government. “Between the 1st day of January 1994 and 18th day of August 1999, Mabey and Johnson Limited conspired with some of its directors, executives, employees and agents to give or agree to give corrupt payments contrary to Section 1 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906 to Ministers, officials and other agents of the Government of Ghana as inducements to secure, or as rewards for having secured contracts from the Government of Ghana, known as “Priority Bridge Programme 1”, “Priority Bridge Programme 2” and “Feeder Roads Projects” for the supply of goods to the said Government of Ghana, contrary to Section 1 of Criminal Law Act 1977”, the charge sheet said.

Under the aforementioned contracts, Mabey and Johnson were allowed to supply relevant goods to the government of Ghana in the execution of a number of capital intensive projects which were predominantly donor-driven.The commission of the alleged acts of offering bribery as contained in the charge sheet was a breach of Section 1 of the Criminal Law Act 1977. Spearheading the case is the indomitable Serious Fraud Office of the UK. Although a preliminary hearing, the case has ignited a lot of interest among especially people with proclivity for corruption stories as they pertain to the developing world, particularly Africa.

Mabey and Johnson has the British law to beat in this epic case, as it is also charged with corruptibly paying an amount of three hundred and sixty three thousand pounds to the erstwhile Saddam Hussein’s regime between May 2001 and November 2002 with a similar story in Jamaica between 1993 and 2001. Mabey and Johnson is a possession of one of UK’s richest families whose reputation is certainly weathering tempestuous times with these charges facing them.The company’s bribery infamy is also traceable to the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, the Dominican Republic and Panama. Both Mabey and Johnson and the man, who was President of Ghana at the time of the alleged corruption, have a record of scowling at those they perceive to be engaged in financial misdemeanour.

In the case of the former, it is on record to have engaged in a litany of accusations against poor countries over corruption, ironically failing to take a position against local British companies and others who as it were feed it by paying bribes to win contracts, according to the Ghana Pundit, an online organization from who the foregone details were culled. Ex-President Jerry John Rawlings considers himself an anti-corruption crusader and even scorning the man he sponsored to become President in Ghana for not doing enough to have jailed, those he perceives as corrupt under the previous Kufuor regime.That Mabey and Johnson paid so much to his ministers and others, would definitely deal a terrible blow to his underbelly, especially as so-called investigations are ongoing against former President Kufuor ministers.

Source: peacefmonline.com

A Guide To Corruption in Ghana (2) – The Case of Mabey and Johnson

By Sydney Casely-Hayford

FIRST REACTION IS SOMETIMES TOO BAD, TRY THE SECOND ONE - By: akoaso,Hamburg-Germany More Quotes | Submit a Quote

In a previous article I attempted to unravel a cocktail of corruption and many readers asked for similarities in other cases to help weave threads of events, which can help curb the prevailing stench of corruption in Ghana. A few readers also blamed us the public as major contributors because we continue to ply institutional purse holders with incessant requests to deliver to our desperate needs. This could be a simple chicken and egg situation, but some variants of corruption are retained solely within the higher echelons of power.

As the UK Serious Fraud Office (UK SFO) has engaged Mabey and Johnson in a first test case of their version of the USA's Foreign Corrupt Practices ACT, Directors and shareholders of the UK company have volunteered information under the new provisions of bribery offences in order to plea bargain their case.

This past Friday, August 7, 2009, the case against Mabey was postponed, to be heard on September 25th this year. The UK has to prove that it is taking these corruption charges seriously, coming in the wake of their refusal to investigate the BAE's Saudi Arabian arms deal and other cases presently before the UK SFO. One major disclosure made by Richard Alderman, Director of UK SFO is that Mabey and Johnson has agreed to pay “reparations” to both Ghana and Jamaica for bribery offences between 1994 and 2000. This admission immediately attaches guilt of some wrongdoing. How much was given, and who was bribed on our (Ghana) side is detailed in the UK SFO submission to the court, but unfortunately presiding Judge Rivlin chose to gag the press. The information is available, we just cannot broadcast in the public yet. But it will come out. The pressure is on the NDC government to accept this reparation.

Here is the corruption cocktail for this project, case no. 1999 Folio 874 before Honourable Mr. Justice Morrison in the High Court of Justice, Queens Bench Division, UK, June 27, 2003. Mabey and Johnson Limited and Ecclesiastical Insurance Office PLC. On or about 24 September 1996, the steelwork structure supplied by Mabey to an Italian company and erected in Ethiopia became unstable and partially collapsed. This meant that Mabey had to review the designs and construction of a number of their bridges, including, relevantly, steel bridges which had been erected or were due to be erected in Ghana. In rectifying the actual and potential faults in the Ghana bridges, Mabey incurred costs, which exceeded £2 million. This case deliberated on Mabey's claims against the Insurance company. Two contracts to build a total of 9 bridges in Ghana span this period and the Government should have been alerted after the collapse in Ethiopia that the bridge designs were faulty. Ghana Priority Bridge 1 was valued at $17,185,000 and the second Ghana Priority Bridge 2 was in excess of $8 million. Mabey undertook to do designs for bridges under two different contracts. It was Mabeyʹs contractual duty to design each set of bridges carefully and properly. They failed to do so in either case. The design work for each set of bridges was negligent and the negligence occurred in 1993/94 and 1995. Yet Ghana Government continued with the contract.

At the time of the Ethiopian bridge collapse, 2 UCBs (Unit Construction Bridges) had been constructed under phase I of the Ghana priority bridge programme, and were up and running, namely those at Damanko and Sabari; the third UCB bridge at Tano, had been designed and fabricated but not erected. In relation to the Ghana II phase, three had been constructed and three had been designed and fabricated but had not been constructed. The eventual outcome was that remedial works were carried out to the two main Ghana I bridges; the Tano bridge was re-designed and a replacement bridge was supplied using some of the existing components. The three UCBs constructed under Ghana II were eventually replaced, and the three awaiting construction were re-designed and replacement bridges were supplied. The contracts were not cancelled despite the design faults and funding issues (more of this later). A clear lack of due diligence and poor reaction to potential disaster. Ghanaians were going to travel on theses bridges daily.

A Mr. Potter negotiated the bridge deals on behalf of Mabey and Johnson and in Ghana, Mabey's representative was the late Danny Ofori-Atta, whose business associate at the time was the late Djin Soussidis, son of JJ Rawlings' cousin and good friend, Michael Soussoudis. Djin died mysteriously from food poisoning and Danny died ostensibly from heart failure. Danny Ofori-Atta was also a leading member of the NDC affiliate EGLE (Every Ghanaian Living Everywhere) party, which pundits never recognized as a serious political machine. In July 2004, Mr. Ofori-Atta announced a break away from the NDC party much to the chagrin of other executives and joined the PNC's Dr. Mahama as his running mate. In a testimony to his success in life, Dr. Mahama is on record saying, “He left a legacy; the party and some beautiful bridges as monuments to his memory.”

In about 1991, Ghanaʹs Ministry of Roads proposed the construction of a flyover in the heart of Accra, for which project £14.5 millions had been allocated through ECGD financing, under the Buyer Credit scheme. Mabey were to be awarded the contract. Under a Buyer Credit scheme, the Government would enter into a loan agreement with a UK bank to finance the contract between the relevant department and the UK exporter. The lending bank would pay the exporter under the supply contract as the payments became due. The ECGD would provide to the lending bank a guarantee of re-payment. For a variety of reasons this project did not go ahead and thus there was an unused financial facility. When the flyover programme was cancelled, Mr Potter saw the opportunity to put forward a road bridge programme, which he named the Priority Bridge Programme. To be able successfully to obtain business for Mabey he had to work closely with the

Finance Ministry. Once the funding was in place, he was then in a position to put forward proposals to the relevant spending department. It was more a question of finding projects to fit the money rather than the other way about. As he put it, “Once an amount had been secured for the project, I could negotiate the specific details of the project with the Ministry of Roads & Highways (MRH) with reference to the sum secured.”

Eventually, the Ministry decided that the £14.5 million secured for the flyover project should be re- allocated to a rural bridging programme. This involved the supply of bridging to the MRH at strategic sites within Ghana and the project was to be overseen by the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA). Mr Potter originally suggested the supply of a large number of panel bridges suitable for rural roads. But it became clear that the government's preference was for a heavier duty bridge, such as a UCB, more suitable for national highways. A firm of consulting engineers had carried out an initial survey of potential bridge sites and these were contained in a book (or bible as it was known) a copy of which the GHA gave to Mr Potter. Armed with this information, Mr Potter identified two sites for major bridges and several sites for smaller ones. This way, instead of projects being identified and financing requested to fund the construction, the GRH virtually handed Mr. Potter a carte blanche to plug whatever projects he could come up with. GRH gave up its oversight responsibility and Potter submitted requests for drawdown. Dr. Kwesi Botchwey was finance minister until mid-1995 when he resigned and Mr. Kwame Peprah took over the ministry.

It is unclear whether the Ghana Government or Ministry of Roads and Highways is pursuing a case against Mabey and Johnson to recover costs, but the UK Government is certainly going to collect when the day is over. There is therefore no evidence that Ghana will follow the UK and request compensation and that is where the “Old Man” ingredient in the corruption cocktail mixes in. Someone does not want this to come out!

A draft Anti-Bribery law was submitted to the UK Parliament in March for pre-legislative scrutiny and first reading in October this year. The bill is expected to enhance the UK's ability to prosecute overseas corruption. The UK SFO lists the following sources as key to gathering facts on cases they prosecute. A close relationship with the police, public information, whistleblowers, information from NGOs, support from international institutions and counterparts and government departments.

Looking to solutions to stem the corruption we must first start with FULL PUBLIC DISCLOSURE. The NPP government failed to pass the Freedom of Information Bill and it is now imperative that the NDC government do it. It is not a matter of political game staging it is a major mix in the corruption cocktail. We have a Whistle Blowers Act 720 and we have independent institutions, albeit under-funded, who have legal authority to investigate and recommend prosecution. We must strengthen and make these institutions independent and able. Parliament, especially at committee level must be more vigilant and our parliamentarians have to be more capable and more aware of public disclosure and dialogue with constituents. The “Big man, Old man” syndrome is the most complex and for that we need leaders of substance and integrity. It is a mighty challenge, but when the head is rotten, the body just wastes away. For that, we have four fingers and a right hand thumb.

Again, we are waiting for the horror stories from the Ghana@50 probe and it is unraveling. Also read Kofi Akosah Sarpong's essay on Tajida “Big Man syndrome” from www.ghananewsmonthly.com.

Source: Sydney Casely-Hayford

Corruption rife in Ghana - GII

Accra, August 7, GNA - A research termed "Voice of the People" survey conducted in July 2005 by Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) has revealed that corruption is rife in the country.

In the survey it was identified that over 87 percent of respondents were unconcerned about reporting incidences of corruption because they were not sure something will be done about it.

Mr. George Amoh, Coordinator of the Advocacy and Legal Advice Centre (ALAC), who made this known in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), said ALAC has been established to fill the gap that exist between witnesses and victims of corruption, and the institutions that have been set up by the State to address such matters.

"ALAC therefore provides the platform to link the complainant to the appropriate forum for the necessary redress" he said.

Mr. Amoh said ALAC was first pioneered by Transparency International (TI) in Eastern Europe in 2003, and till date 27 such centres had been established worldwide.

"ALAC strongly believes that people are usually apathetic in the face of corruption because they are not provided with the simple, credible and viable mechanisms to effectively combat the menace" he said.

Mr. Amoh added that ALAC Ghana would, therefore, provide the avenue for people and corporate bodies who have either become victims or witnesses of corrupt practice's to lodge their complaint with the appropriate institutions for redress.

He said since ALAC's inception in May 2009, it has received 13 complaints and has engaged the services of 2 lawyers to offer professional advice and assistance to the complainants.

Mr. Amoh said by the end of the year a comprehensive Memorandum of Understanding would be signed with partner state institutions to ensure that cases referred are pursued to their logical conclusions.

Source: GNA

UK Corruption Case Has Serious Implications for the NDC Govt

Presiding Judge Rivlin at the Crown Court number 1 at Southwark, UK A large number of the public, press and representatives from the Ghana High Commission attended the trial this morning. It was a packed courtroom with 16 legal representatives including officials from the Serious Fraud Office in attendance. We were informed that it was a preliminary hearing. 10 charges had been filed against Mabey and Johnson. The matter had been transferred from Westminster Magistrates Court following a hearing on 10 July 2009.

Mabey and Johnson entered a plea of guilty to Charges 1, 5 and 9 (out of the 10 charges) For our purposes the relevant charge is Charge 1 details of which are as follows:

First Charge relating to Ghana bribes

"Between the 1st day of January 1994 and 18th day of August 1999, conspired with certain of its directors, executives, employees and agents to give or agree to give corrupt payments contrary to Section 1 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906 to Ministers, officials and other agents of the Government of Ghana as inducements to secure, or as rewards for having secured contracts from the Government of Ghana, known as "Priority Bridge Programme 1", Priority Bridge Programme 2" and "Feeder Roads Projects" for the supply of goods to the said Government of Ghana by Mabey and Johnson Limited. Contrary to Section 1 of Criminal Law Act 1977

The case is informed by the Serious Fraud Office of the UK. Date of next hearing: Friday 25 September at 10 am.

Source: Casely-Hayford Sydney

Prez Mills, Veep in pay books of Zoomlion, Company denies allegation

*Clears Mills Gov’t from bribery allegations

*Insists no former Gov’t official owns a cent in company

THE GHANA-BASED multi-national sanitation company, ZOOMLION Ghana Limited, last Friday debunked a series of ruling NDC-inspired allegations against the company, including allegations that the Mills-led government has failed to probe the company because both the President and Vice President John Mahama are in the pay books of the company.

The allegations, which were published by pro-NDC newspapers last week, highlighted the launch of two events of the ZOOMLION by the President and his Veep as evidence the two NDC men were on the pay books of the company.

Speaking on Radio Gold last week after his paper’s publication of a story on alleged “NDC bigwigs and ZOOMLION”, the Editor of the NDC-established Ghanaian Democrat newspaper, Kwabena Boadu, alleged that the Veep was on the payroll of ZOOMLION.

He also accused President Mills of dilly-dallying on probing ZOOMLION over selfish reasons.

The basis for his allegation was that both the President and his Veep had recently launched events related to the company, with the President having allegedly relaunched J. A. Plantpool, another company belonging to the ever-expanding company after it had been reportedly launched earlier in 2008 by former President Kufuor.

Speaking at its press conference Friday night, the company debunked the notion that the President and his Veep have any ulterior interest in the company. The General Manager of ZOOMLION, Mrs Florence Larbi, explained that the President did not also commission an already- commissioned project as alleged because the company had already been launched in 2008 by the time President Mills came into office.

Contrary to the claims that President Mills re-commissioned the project because of his interest, Mrs Larbi explained that the President only responded to the invitation to the event because it was to launch a package for the transport sector of the economy under which J. A. Plantpool supplied buses and equipment from its Chinese partners to Ghanaian contractors and transport owners under affordable terms of payment.

The Company Secretary of ZOOMLION and former Board Chairman, Mr Kwame Gyan, who took journalists through the history of the company also noted that J. A. Plantpool was affixed with the name J. A. because the Registrar General’s Department did not want to retain the name PLANTPOOL on the records after ZOOMLION bought the landed property from its original owners, PLANTPOOL.

He dismissed the notion that the initials J. A. meant any other thing than the name of the brain behind JOSPONG group of companies. Mr. Joseph Agyapong. He also displayed Internal Revenue Service receipts to show that contrary to allegations that the company has not filed its tax returns, ZOOMLION as of the middle of last month (July 14, 2009) had filed tax returns on all its estimated 1500 staff.

He explained that the estimated 24,000 employed youth under the contract between ZOOMLION and the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) are staff of the State paid for by Government through Zoomlion and their statutory tax duties are therefore that of the State.

He also debunked reports that the company is owned by members of the previous Kufuor-led administration, insisting that ZOOMLION belongs to those whose names appear on the records at the Registrar General’s Department.

He also outlined the reasons behind the success of the company since its inception in 2006, saying it’s the result of hard work and borrowing from banks to finance its expansion. He said the presence of the Vice President at the launch of J. A. Quarry, a company established from the ZOOMLION group to provide quarry stones to contractors at the Bui Dam as well as other contractors in the Western Region, was because of the recognition that the company would provide jobs and pay its corporate taxes.

The company said it had procured loans for its expansion and said Ghanaians must recognise that multinationals relocate profits to their countries of origin and that ZOOMLION, which has recently expanded to other African countries would do same and pay taxes on whatever wealth it generates outside Ghana.

ZOOMLION currently operates in Togo, Guinea, Nigeria and Angola. It has also secured a contract to be one of the main sanitation companies for the upcoming 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Despite all these, elements within the ruling party have openly and clandestinely been pushing for government to engineer the collapse of the company, with some within the ruling party also rallying against such calls, explaining that a collapse would worsen the already serious economic challenges facing the administration.

In the view of those against engineering the collapse of the company, allowing a fair competition in the sanitation sector is the best way of ensuring a win-win situation for the government. Significantly, while some leaders of the NDC rally against the company, credible information suggests that the Northern Regional branch of the NDC have virtually started replacing staff employed under the Zoomlion contract with the Government under the NYEP contract by virtually turning the recruitment process into an NDC event.

Sources say the current politicized nature of the staffing level in Tamale has compelled a lot of its sub-supervisors to resign. Following earlier media reports that some leading members of the NDC in Tamale demanded the keys to the company’s vehicles and offices after the 2008 first round elections, it has now been confirmed that staff who were employed during the previous regime are gradually being phased out, with NDC party sympathizers taking up their positions.

Sources say Daniel Martey who was transferred to Tamale from Wa after the presidential run-off election as the Northern Regional Supervisor of Zoomlion has had his office inundated with a tall protocol list of NDC loyalists for recruitment.

An old staff who spoke on grounds of anonymity said majority of the new recruits have refused to report at the main yard where they are usually conveyed to their respective duty posts, boasting that their party is in power and that they will at the end of every month collect salary for no work done.

The latest victim of that circumstance is Mohammed Kudewura, who was then a sub-supervisor in charge of the Tamale Metropolitan Area. The immediate past Tamale Metro sub-supervisor disclosed to this paper that the company’s regional authority has violated one of its outstanding principles by giving each NDC Constituency Chairman the chance to submit 40 names for employment.

This opportunity, he explained, was previously offered to only all the MPs in the entire Northern Region, which was already dominated by the NDC. Contacted, Daniel Martey, the Regional Supervisor confirmed the latest development in the company but denied that it was borne out of political interference.

---

Source: GYE NYAME CONCORD

Which is the most Corrupt Party in Ghana?

When they were in opposition the National Democratic Congress [NDC] constantly accused the New Patriotic Party [NPP] of being corrupt and the accusation continued when President Mills government took office. The NPP has been accused by the NDC for appropriating millions of dollars during the celebration of Ghana@50. The NPP has also been accused of making profits from the building of the Jubilee House built to house the presidency. The allegation has forced President Mills to delay moving into House.

The allegations against the NPP seem to go on by the day with P.C. Appiah Ofori a member of the NPP party going public to accuse Members of Parliament belonging to the NPP. He accused them of receiving $5000 each during the sale of Ghana Telecom in which they were asked to vote to support the motion.

NDC also points out that the loan secured by the son of former president Chief Kuffour for the purchase of Hotel Kuffour was made only possible because of his father's position at the time.

NDC members further contend that Dr. Anane corruption saga in which he was investigated and exonerated points to a deep seated corruption practices in the NPP.

NDC says the investigation of Asamoah Boateng over award of contracts in his ministry is a clear manisfestation of what the NPP is best noted for. The arrest of former foreign minister Kwasi Osei-Adjei is another attestation of deep seated corruption in the former ruling party, NDC claims.

The NPP on the other hand has countered the NDC's accusations by pointing to the massive corruption scandals that marked the 11 years of PNDC and 8 years of NDC rule. They point to recent revelations that suggest the NDC transition team spent a whopping 3.61 billion cedis on tea and water within two months. In I told you so style members of the NPP say NDC is only a reflection of an advanced cancer that cannot be cured. They point to recent media report that the NDC spent one million new Ghanaian cedis (about 10 billion old Ghana cedis) during President Obama's visit and question how the NDC could spend such amount in just under 24 hours.

NPP also points to revelations in Nigeria and Ghana newspapers that the Governor of Rivers State of Nigeria Mr. Rotimi Amaechi paid $3.5 million to ex-President Rawlings which was used to bankroll NDC 2008 election campaign that brought them victory.

NPP says the NDC is like a pot calling the kettle black and points to recent information in public domain that Mahama Ayariga the spokesperson for President Mills has illegally acquired five tractors meant for poor Ghanaian farmers. NPP say Ayariga took five tractors meant for underprivileged farmers and paid for only one whose price was further reduced for him.

NPP says the NDC top brass should shut up their buccal cavity because they have no moral right to accuse its members of corruption. Members of NPP claim that NDC shady deals are everywhere for Ghanaians to see.

They have accused Muntaka of using his office as a charity office for his family buying pampas, khebab and travelling around with his girl friend at the cost of Ghanaian tax payer. They point to Alhaji Muntaka Mubarak as an embodiment of NDC corruption.

The NPP further points to an ongoing corruption trial in Southwark Crown Court, London, United Kingdom in which a tiny family company called Mabey & Johnson of UK is believed to have paid $6 million to NDC party gurus in exchange for contracts. It has been revealed that the said corruption took place between 1994 and 1999 at a time when the current of the republic President Atta Mills was vice president with Rawlings as president.

NPP says corruption allegation levelled at current Foreign Minister Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni is only a tip of a herculian problem and a practice which is so common in the NDC. NPP says an audit report from the Auditor Generals Office implicating Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni in financial malfeasance and wrong-doing makes the NDC and the government of Fiifi Mills a laughing stock international community especially when it comes to negotiations in financial matters.

And as if that is not enough Nana Ohene-Ntow, the General Secretary of the NPP in a hot exchange with Kofi Adams called on Jerry Rawlings (the founder and a key member of NDC), to come clean if he is not corrupt. Nana Ohene-Ntow told Adams who doubles as the spokesperson for Rawlings and NDC Deputy Youth Organiser, "he [Rawlings] should tell Ghanaians how he got money to build his mansion at Agyirigannon, how he financed his children's fees abroad, and those who provided him the 4 wheel drive vehicles.If he fails to provide the hard facts, he should desist from disturbing the peace of this country".

With no ending sight to accusations and counter accusations of corruption in Ghana it is only the people of Ghana who can be a good judge in determing which party could be considered most corrupt in the country.

By Lord Aikins Adusei

Aziz Zakari, others banned from world athletics championship

Aziz Zakari, Ghana's top male sprinter The International Association Athletics Federation (IAAF) has banned Ghanaian athletes from taking part in the World Athletics Championships due in Berlin this month. The decision is as a result of disputed election in June which ushered in Prof Francis Dodoo as new Chairman of the Ghana Olympic Committee. The IAAF says it does not recognize the newly elected executives and has called for the reinstatement of the old executives led by BT Baba, pending the organization of another congress. Ghana’s female sprinter Vida Anim has described the decision as unfair. She has together with Seth Amu, Aziz Zakari been preparing feverishly for the competition which begins on August 15. In an interview with Joy Sports, Anim called on the feuding parties to put the interest and careers of the athletes above their personal interest. She said their dreams cannot be shattered on the altar of people’s ambitions to become leaders. Even though BT Baba and Prof Dodoo have both publicly declared their intention to step down in the interest of the worried athletes, there still remain issues of legitimacy which has to be resolved. Baba says he is ready to meet with Dodoo for an amicable solution, but added in what capacity is he going to meet him? As far as he is concerned, the June 30 election was flawed, unconstitutional and would only go along with the directive of the IAAF which says the former executives must remain in office until a flawless congress is held to elect new ones. He was outraged over letters sent to him by Prof Dodoo requesting him (Baba) to desist from signing letters in the name of the GOC. Prof Dodoo however insists his election was fair and just. A re-election he said could disenfranchise other members of the GOC. It is not clear the next line of action to be taken, but what is certain is that the dream of the athletes to compete in the championships is in danger, if not shattered. Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana

Australia shocked at Ghana's 'hearing' deaf players

Taking corruption to the highest level.This is shameful and disgusting

The Deaf Football Australia has threatened to drag the Association of Sports for the Disabled of Ghana (ASBOD) to the International Sports Confederation for the Disabled (ISCD) for sanctions after allegations that Ghana sent hearing players to Australia for an international friendly.

The Ghana News Agency says the Deaf Football Australia is also demanding USD14,789.00 from Ghana, as refund which covered the cost of Ghana's contingent in Australia with a deadline fixed for August 14, 2009.

A letter sent to the secretariat of ASBOD and signed by Brian Seymour, Secretary of Deaf Football Australia said "I'm writing to inform you that, Deaf Football Australia and its deaf community are very disappointed and disgusted with your organization sending hearing players to an international assignment".

The letter said "the invoice is for expenses for 39 persons who travelled to Australia."

Investigation conducted by the GNA Sports revealed that 25 hearing persons were sent to Australia to represent Ghana instead of the non-hearing persons of the Association.

An official of ASBOD who spoke to the GNA Sports on condition of anonymity suspected fraud in the trip that implicates some high profile officials of ASBOD.

According to the ASBOD official, the 25 hearing persons who went to Australia were not players but people seeking travelling opportunity. It is believed that each of the 25 hearing persons parted with 4,000 dollars each to get a place on the trip in July.

The ASBOD has referred the letter to the National Sports Council (NSC).


Source: GNA

Kwesi Pratt: Corruption Engulfs Police And Government

The managing editor for the Insight newspaper, Mr. Kwesi Pratt has criticised the Ghana Police for allegedly being corrupt in the course of their duties. Speaking as a resource person on Peace FM’s “Kokrokoo” morning show, Mr. Pratt said, our security personnel who are supposed to protect us are themselves corrupt and fraudulent that is why there is so much corruption in our government. He based most of his critics on the police saying their corrupt nature also contributes to the rampant accidents in the country.

He explained that instead of checking and preventing drivers and cars which are not worthy from plying our roads, the police take bribe and allow them to go and they end up killing people. He cited what happened at the Accra Circuit Court on May 11, as an example, when seven accused persons including two police officers were remanded into police custody for allegedly dealing in narcotic-related business. These accusations came about when Mr. Pratt attempted to react to a statement made on Peace FM by the NDC General Secretary, Mr. Asiedu Nketia that, the former Speaker of Parliament should be arrested and prosecuted for taking the State's household items including refrigerators, washing machine, furniture and several others after his term of office.

Mr. Asiedu Nketia was speaking in reaction to the Daily Graphic newspaper headline Story yesterday about the former Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Begyina Sekyi Hughes titled “Ex-Speaker Is Hot - He’s To Return Items Worth GH¢1.6m to the State. The paper further reported that, the former Speaker was also to pay GH¢1 million for some items he took away when he left his bungalow and keep the rest, which were valued at GH¢36,800, at no cost to him. According to the paper, these were some of the recommendations made by a Parliamentary ad hoc Committee chaired by the Minority Leader in Parliament, Mr. Osei Kyei-Mensah Bonsu. The Committee was constituted to investigate allegations against the former Speaker that he had taken away household appliances valued at GH¢4.5 million from his bungalow at cantonments in Accra.

Meanwhile, Hon. Osei Kyei-Mensah Bonsu whom the paper itself reported as having chaired the committee for the investigation granted an interview on the matter on Peace FM. He debunked the newspaper’s report about the former Speaker, saying the report is false, especially the amount it quoted was wrong. He said the paper quoted high figures which did not come from the committee.

In a related development, the Daily Graphic newspaper has apologised to the committee and the general public, saying it quoted wrong figures. They wrote: “In our front page report yesterday on the items to be returned by the former Speaker of Parliament, Mr. Ebenezer Begyina Sekyi Hughes, the amount we quoted for the items to be returned should have been ¢1,668,631,461 (old cedis). In converting that amount to Ghana cedis, we erred in coming up with the figures of GH¢1.6million, instead of GH¢166,863.10 as the right conversion. The error is regretted. ”

By John Nyaaba, peacefmonline.com